It’s been a Miocic massacre as the champion continues to lay waste to the heavyweight division.

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That’s been the norm of late: Miocic faces a tough, top 10 opponent and disposes him in short order.

The breakdown in his last three fights before the dos Santos bout:

• Andrei Arlovski, Jan. 2, 2016: Miocic won by KO in 4:06.

• Fabricio Werdum, May 14, 2016: Mioicc won by KO in 2:14.

• Alistiar Overeem, Sept. 10, 2016: Miocic won by KO in 4:27.

Those were three victories against three quality opponents in less than a combined 11 minutes.

Miocic took out dos Santos in the main event of UFC 211 in 2 minutes, 22 seconds with a vicious right, then a series of lefts to his head that left those welts on the back of dos Santos’ head.

There’s an opponent waiting in the wings for Miocic, but at this stage of his career, which Coach Marcus Marinelli calls Miocic’s prime, who can beat him? Who would be willing to bet against him at this point.?

The answer to both appears to be no one and no one.

It might be a case of the UFC running out of worthy challengers. When Miocic fights next is up in the air. On several occasions during his post-fight news conference, the champ said he needed to “take some time” and that he had “a lot of things to think about.”

Miocic would not elaborate, but as long as he remains “the baddest man on the planet” UFC nation will be watching. In particular Miocic’s next bout. One more win puts him alone as the only UFC heavyweight to defend his belt three times.

Potential opponents include the winner of the upcoming Fabricio Werdum-Alistair Overeem bout at UFC 213 in July.

“I always watch the fights, and I’ll watch that one,” said Miocic. “They’re both veterans, so it’s going to be a very, very interesting fight.”

UFC president Dana White said former champion Cain Velasquez is hoping to return in the fall. Miocic and Velasquez have never fought, so that could be the title bout to make.

Whatever the future matchup, White knows he has a red-hot fighter on his hands in Miocic, and one on the doorsteps of history.

“It’s crazy, but yeah, it will be tough to say he’s not (the best of all time with another win),” said White. “If he’s beyond that, he’s a (bleeping) hall of famer.

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Mark's an Ohio State graduate who's been with The News-Herald since 1996. He enjoys exercising, reading, writing, cooking, spending time with his family and college football. Reach the author at mpodolski@news-herald.com
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